Propeller



Dec, 2, 1930. T. A. DICKS 1,783,225

PROPELLER Filed Dec. 31. 1927 VENTOR. T/ eomas Dicks.

A TTORNE YS.

In metal Patented Dec. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS A. DICKS, OI PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTB, 'I'O PITTSBURGH SCREW A. BOLT COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, rmmsrn- VANIA,A CORPORATION OF FENNSYLVANIA.

IBOPELLEB Application filed December 81, 1927. Serial No. 244,021.

This invention relates to improvements in mountings for propellers and particularly to that form of mounting which is used for propellers of the aircraft type.

ropeller construction a hub 1s provided which either inte ally or detachably secures the blade sections. In certain of these constructions, in order to replace a blade which may become damaged, it is neclo essary to remove a portion of the hub, or the hub may be so constructed that it has a screw threaded engagement with the blade. Both constructions are open to innumerable objections, in the one instance where the hub 1s in sections and it is necessary to release one of the blades, the other blade is likewise released, and in the screw threaded method it is sometimes diflicult to correctly pitch one blade relative to the other blade. My invention has among its objects the overcoming of the objections above noted and to provide a hub construction which will allow the ready removal of a blade without in any manner afi'ecting the other blade. Another object is the provision of a hub construction which is so formed as to materially reduce its cost of manufacture.

Another object includes a progaeller hub which is positive in operation, 001 proof, and with no parts which are liable to be easily broken, and which is generally superior.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association and relative arrangement of parts, members and features all as shown in certain embodiments in the accompanying drawings,

lslecltion of the modified form of propeller Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Referrin now with particularity to the drawings t e improved propeller of the type shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 is designated as an entirety by A, and the form shown in Fig. 5 as an entirety by B. All of these different types embody the same characteristics and objects.

Taking first the form A, the improved hub a is adapted to secure a pair of blades 6. Of course the number of blades is not a feature of the invention, as the hub may be constructed to include any number of blades. This invention, as has been stated, relates more particularly to the hub construction. Referring to Fig. 2, the said hub is adapted to receive the shank 1 of the blade 6.

The hub shown in Fig. 2 includes a shaft receiving sleeve 2, which is provided with a tapered bore 3 and with one or more key ways 4, whereby the same may be received upon an engine shaft. Carried upon the periphery of said sleeve is the member 5, which constitutes the blade shank receiving portion or socket of the hub. In this instance two blades are provided and there will be two shank receiving portions or sockets, one for each blade member.

Referring to Fig. 8, it will be noted that the sleeve 2 is provided with a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending key ways or slots 6, and that the blade shank receiving portion 5 is provided with a plurality of keys for reception within said key ways of the sleeve. It is therefore evident that this construction permits the shank receiving ortion to be tightly secured to the sleeve so t at rotation of the sleeve produces rotation of the shank receiving portion. The propeller blade shank receiving portion or socket 5 is tubular in form and provided on its inner surface with one or more segmental shoulders 8. Said shank receivin portion is likewise sfilit or slotted longitudinally for a portion t ereof as shown at 9. This socket or shank receiving portion is slightly peripherally grooved near its extending end in order to provide clam ing flexibility about the blade shank. In ot er words, the slot extends a substantially lon itudinal distance from the outer edge of t e extending end thereof. Lug members 10 and 11 are integrally formed on the shank receiving portion adjacent the ends thereof and at opposite sides of the split 9. These lugs are provided with aligned bores. It is to be particularly noted that the segmental shoulders 8 of a given grou assuming a group of three as shown in ig. 3, all he in substantially the same plane. In other words, the shoulders do not provide what ma be termed a screw thread. The shanks 1 0 each blade are provided with one or more segmental shoulder portions 12 which are adapted to cooperate with the segmental shoulders of the hub. In this connection it is of course necessary that tl}e spacing between the segmental shoulders o the hub should be such as to permit the segmental shoulders of the shank of the blades to pass therebetween. If we assume that two blades are used and that the blade shanks have been inserted within the shank receiving portions of the hub and then turned so that the segmental shoulders of both said shank receiving portions and the said shanks of the blades are in cooperative engagement as illustrated in Figsr2 and 3, a bolt may be passed through the bores in the lugs 10 and 11 and a nut 13 tightened thereon to draw said lugs together and clamp the split portion of the shank receiving portion tightly about the shank or shanks of the blades. In this connection the nut or nuts 13 may be of the castellated type with the usual cotter pin or pins for securing the same in locked engagement to the bolt.

While ordinarily this would be a suflicient lock for the blade to the shank receiving portion of the hub, still for safety measure may provide an elongated pin or bolt 14: adapted to be passed through the shank re ceiving portion and the shank. The opening in the blade shank for this pin or bolt is enlarged so as to be of greater width than the pin or bolt to permit slight rotative movement of the blade shank in adjusting the angle assumed by the blade relative to the shank.

The form of the device designated as B 7 does not differ in essential details from that form just described with the following exceptions, namely the shank of the propeller blade is solid in place of tubular, and in place of providing a single longitudinal slot in the shank receivin bores of the huh, I have provided a plurality thereof as indicated at 20. Furthermore the periphery of the shank receiving portion of the hub is slightly peripherally grooved at 22 and a clamp band is received in said groove with means such as a bolt and nut as shown in Fig. 4 for clamping said band to thereby cause relative movement between the split portions of the shank receiving part to clamp said shank receiving part .into tight engagement with the propeller blade shank. Other details of construction remain the same.

The method by which the ropeller hub is mounted upon the shaft of the engine is not detailed, as the method is well understood in the art.

My invention, as has been pointed out in the objects, provides a novel means for clamping or releasing a blade from the hub and it will be obvious that a releasinglof the bolts which are adapted to cause tig t engagement between the shank rcceiving portion and the shank of the propeller blade, will permit, when the blade is slightly turned, of releasing the blade from said shank receiving portion and without disturbing the mounting of the other blade.

It is obvious that various changes, modifications and variations may be made in practising the invention in de arture from the particular showing of the rawings, without de arting from the true spirit thereof.

aving thus disclosed my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of a propeller hub having a blade shank encircling socket and a propeller blade, said socket and the circular shank of said blade being provided with cooperating segmental shoulders adapted to interlock with each other and to permit relative rotation therebetween and to ermit quick removal of the blade shank rom said socket, said shank and socket being provided with registering openings for receiving a common securing means, the o nings in said shank being circumferentiall elongated so that said shank can be rotated in respect to sai socket for permitting pitch ad]ustment of the propeller blade While said securing means is positioned but not rigidly secured.

2. The combination with an airplane propeller hub having a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking lugs thereon, of a shank receiving portion adapted to removably engage said locking lugs and provided with a plurality of radially extendin sockets, each of said sockets being adapted to receive a circular shank of a propeller blade, said shank and socket being provided with cooperating segmental shoulders adapted to interlock with each other and to permit relative rotation therebetween, said circular shank and socket being provided with registering openings for receiving a common se-,

curing means, the openings in said shank being circumferentially elongated for permitting relative rotation of said shank within its socket while said securing means is loosely positioned.

3. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of a propeller hub havin a blade shank encircling socket and a propel or meaaau blade, said socket bein provided with a slot extending a substantia longitudinal distance from the outer edge of the extending end thereof, lug members integrally formed on said socket adjacent the end thereof and on opposite sides of said slot, said In having aligned bores for receiving a bolt t erein, so that a nut tightened on said bolt will draw said lugs together and clamp the split or tion of said socket tightly upon the shan of said blade.

4. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of a propeller hub-having a blade shank encircling socket and a propeller blade, said socket having a slot extending a substantial longitudinal distance from the outer edge of the extending end thereof, said socket being slightly eripherally grooved near its extending end and being provided with lug members integrally formed thereon adjacent said end on opposite sides of said slot, so that a nut tightenedon said bolt will draw said lugs together and clamp the slotted portion of said socket tightly upon the shank of said blade.

5. In a device of the character disclosed,

' the combination of a propeller hub having a tudinal distance from the blade shank encircling socket and a propeller blade, said socket and the circular shank of said blade being provided with cooperatin segmental shoulders for interlocking wit each other and for permitting relative rotation therebetween, said socket being provided with a slot extending a substantial longiouter edge of the extending end thereof, lug members integrally formed on said socket adjacent the end thereof and on opposite sides of said slot, said lugs having aligned bores for receiving a bolt therein, so that a nut tightened on said bolt will draw said lugs together and clamp the s lit portion of said socket tightly upon the s ank of said blade.

6. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of a propeller hub having a blank shank encircling socket and a propeller blade, said socket and the circular shank of said blade being provided with cooperating segmental shoulders for interlocking with each other and for permitting relative rotation therebetween, said shank and socket being provided with registering openings for receiving a common securing means, the o enings in said shank bein circumferentia 1y elongated so that said 8 ank can be rotated in respect to said socket for permitting pitch adjustment of the propeller blade while said securing means is positioned but not rigidly secured, said socket being provided with a slot extending a substantial longitudinal distance fromthe outer edge of the extending end thereof, lug members integrally formed on said socket adjacent the end thereof and on opposite sides of said slot, said lugs having aligned bores for receiving a bolt therein, so that a nut tight ened on said bolt will draw said in together and clamp the split-portion 0 said socket tightly uponthe shank of said blade.

7. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of a propeller hub having a blade shank encirclin socket and a propeller blade, said socket icing provided with a slot extending a substantial distance from the outer edge of the extending end thereof, lugs integrally formed adjacent the end there of and ositioned on opposite sides of said slot, sai lugs having an ali ned bore for receiving a bolt therein, so t at a nut tightened on said bolt will draw said lugs toether and clamp the split portion of the socket tightly about the shank of said blade, the said socket and said propeller shank being provided with registering openings for receiving a common securing means, the openings in said shank being circumferentially elongated, so that said shank can be rotated with respect to said socket for permitting pitch adjustment of the propeller blade while said clamping means is positioned but not rigidly tightened.

8. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of a propeller hub having a blade shank encircling socket and a propeller blade, said socket being provided with grooves longitudinally extending a substantial distance from the outer edge thereof, said socket having an annular roove around its periphery near its exten ing end for receiving a clamping strap therein, said strap being provided with means for tightening the extending end of said socket and clamping the propeller blade shank therein.

9. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of a propeller hub having a blade shank encircling socket and a solid pro eller blade, the circular shank of said bla e and said socket being rovided with cooperating segmental shoul ers for interlocking with each other and for permitting relative rotation therebetween, said socket havin a plurality of slots cut longitudinally inwar from the extending edge thereof, said socket having a slight annular oove formed near the extending end thereo for receiving a strap clamp therein, said clamp being provided with means for tightening said socket about the said shank and clamping them together, the said socket and shank being provided with registering openings near the inner end thereof for receiving a common securing means, the openings in said shank being circumferentially elongated so that said shank can be rotated in respect to said socket for permitting pitch adjustment of the propeller blade while said clamping means is positioned but not rigidly tightened.

10. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of a propeller hub having a shaft receiving sleeve, said sleeve being provided with a tapered bore for receiving an engineshaft therein, said sleeve having a centered-portion sli htly grooved along the periphery thereof or receiving a blade shank receiving socket thereon, and means for rigidly securing said socket on said sleeve.

11. In a device of the character disclosed the combination of a propeller blade having a sleeve, said sleeve being provided with a tapered bore for receiving an engine shaft therein, a shank receiving socket integrally formed on the periphery of said sleeve and extending therefrom, said socket being provided with a plurality of slots extending a substantial lon 'tudinal distance from the extending end t ereof, said socket having an annular groove out near its extending end for receiving a clamping means therein, a propeller blade having a shank formed to fit within said socket, registered openings cut in said socket near the inner end thereof and cut through the shank of said propeller for receiving a common securing means therein.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

THOMAS A. DICKS.

an engineshaft ovided with a tapered bore for receiving therein, said sleeve having htly grooved along or receiving a blade and means centered portion sli ank receiving socket thereon,

for rigidly securing said socket on said sleeve.

11. In a device of the character disclosed the combination of a propeller blade having tapered therein,

sleeve, said sleeve being provided with a bore for receiving an engine shaft a shank receiving socket integrally formed on the periphery of said sleeve and extending therefrom, said socket being provided with a plurality of slots extending a substantial longitudinal distance from the extending end t iereof, said socket having an annular groove out near its extending end for receiving a propeller blade clamping means therein, it having a shank formed to fit within said socket, registered openings cut cut through the receiving a common securin said socket near the inner end thereof and shank of said propeller for means therein.

In testimony whereof, I ave signed my '25 name to this specification.

THOMAS A. DICKS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,783,225. Granted December 2, 1930, to

THOMAS A. DICKS.

It is hereby certified that the assignee in the above numbered patent was I erroneously described and specified as "Pittsburgh Screw 8: Bolt Company",

whereas said assignee should have been described and specified as Pittsburgh Screw 8: Bolt Corporation, as assignee by mesne assignments of the entire intereat in said invention, as shown by the records of assignments in the office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of January, A. D. 1931.

M.- J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,783,225. Granted December 2, 1930, to

THOMAS A. DICKS.

It is hereby certified that the assignee in the above numbered patent was erroneously described and specified as "Pittsburgh Screw & Bolt Company",

whereas said assignee should have been described and specified as Pittsburgh Screw & Bolt Corporation, as assignee by mesne assignments of. the entire interest in said invention, as shown by the records of assignments in the office;

and that the said Letters Patentshould be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of January, A. D. 1931.

LL]. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

